IGN reviews SMS

[DarkMaster]

Presentation-
The combination of poor FMVs, zero story value, poor character design, and a "vacation" theme is rather a shocker. The focus was clearly on gameplay only. 6.0

Graphics-
Mario Sunshine actually takes advantage of GameCube for quite a few pleasing visual touches. Brilliant water, particle effects, and draw distance add up. Bad art and textures damage it. 8.0

Sound-
A few catchy tunes, some fitting level themes, and Dolby support. But, things get a little dirty with some bad interactive music and voice-overs. 7.0

Gameplay-
The definition of pure fun. The controls and level design come together beautifully for a must-play game. The camera, however, is a major nuisance. 9.0

Lasting Appeal-
The main quest is lengthy, and after-hours with going for all the 120 Shines keeps on kicking. Very entertaing, but only the most hardcore of fans will play through it twice. 9.0

OVERALL SCORE (not an average) 9.4


Not bad I guess, i'll still buy it the first day. The review was written by Fran Mirabella III. if enough people wanna read the full review i'll post it for ya.

[bobcat]

Damn I was expecting a lot better, but it's Mario, and I'll buy it coz I love Mario games.

[gekko]

Fran's going critical. That's what he should do when he reviews it, but now the tons of stupid Nintendo fanboys won't think it's a good game cause something's not perfect.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by gekko
Fran's going critical. That's what he should do when he reviews it, but now the tons of stupid Nintendo fanboys won't think it's a good game cause something's not perfect.

U got a point there

[Old Skool]

This is about the first review I feel has got it right where it comes to SMS the graphics are not that good yet some sites still felt the need (Or should we say the Nintendo push) to mark them up higher then they should have been but the game still gets top marks cuss it plays so well. Well done IGN you done at lest one thing right this year.

Oh and I do not really thing this will stop any one buying the game after all 9.4 is still 9.4.

[Jason1]

Yes, it looks like they got it right, even though we all wish it didnt really have the problems mentioned. From the Demo, the camera was annoying. The textures arent that good. IGN speaks the truth here.

[GameKinG]

Well, 9.4 is nothing to be ashamed of, I expect at least that to a 9.8. But seeing as they are getting more and more critical, especialy with Nintendo games, things they once though should be overlooked, are included.

But honestly what was his @$$ when he did presentation. Is it really that bad?

"zero story value...and a "vacation" theme is rather a shocker"

Did they expect much of a story, most mario games dont have one. I dont see whats wrong when the game is just doing what it has done before. Its like they suddenly expect it to have one when they know it wont, so they say thats bad.

And the vacation thing a shocker? How long have they known about SMS? They did go to E3, no? Oviously they are on a vacation.

But overall, its one of the most fair reviews Ive seen.

[DarkMaster]

Fran is a professional video game writer, he plays games for a living. its his job to find the bad things (and good things) in a game and expose them to the public. he also mentions many times in his review that the good FAR out ways the bad in sms. so fear not, its nothing to worry about.

[GameKinG]

Im just confused about presentation, as he is a profesional, he should know these things before hand. I guess he is trying to make it how the average gamer who dosnt know mario is on a vacation would see it.

[DarkMaster]

Originally posted by GameKinG
Im just confused about presentation, as he is a profesional, he should know these things before hand. I guess he is trying to make it how the average gamer who dosnt know mario is on a vacation would see it.
your not alone with that, the presentation is the most confusing part for me too. 6.0 is way too low IMO. mario has never really had an amazing in-depth story so its no surprise to see sms have a very little story as well. and why is he complaining about the tropical vacation theme? i see no problem with that, its a fun change from past marios. and i think poor FMVs are better than no FMVs. sometimes i really question IGN's writers....

[Bond]

Originally posted by GameKinG
Well, 9.4 is nothing to be ashamed of, I expect at least that to a 9.8. But seeing as they are getting more and more critical, especialy with Nintendo games, things they once though should be overlooked, are included.

But honestly what was his @$$ when he did presentation. Is it really that bad?

"zero story value...and a "vacation" theme is rather a shocker"

Did they expect much of a story, most mario games dont have one. I dont see whats wrong when the game is just doing what it has done before. Its like they suddenly expect it to have one when they know it wont, so they say thats bad.

And the vacation thing a shocker? How long have they known about SMS? They did go to E3, no? Oviously they are on a vacation.

But overall, its one of the most fair reviews Ive seen.
I believe they are being more critical on sequels, not Nintendo games in general.

And the shocker thing was most likely sarcasm.

In any case, I'm still buying Super Mario Sunshine.

[DeathsHand]

Originally posted by DarkMaster

your not alone with that, the presentation is the most confusing part for me too. 6.0 is way too low IMO. mario has never really had an amazing in-depth story so its no surprise to see sms have a very little story as well. and why is he complaining about the tropical vacation theme? i see no problem with that, its a fun change from past marios. and i think poor FMVs are better than no FMVs. sometimes i really question IGN's writers....

Presentation should be higher just cuz Mario games never have a good story or anything? Sounds like, to me, that it shouldn't make SMS's presentation score higher, but it should make the other mario game's presentation scores low too :p

Just cuz we're used to it, doesn't mean it deserves a higher score... like I hear that the game has a pretty crappy camera system... and I heard people complaining about Mario 64 being crappy too... Does that mean a reviewer person should go "It has a bad camera system, but it was like that before so it gets a PERFECT 10!!!11"... no, it should be more like "It has a bad camera system like Mario 64. Couldn't they have taken the time to make it better?" Or something :p

Bah I don't care... Although I might just rent the game... not cuz of reviews, but because I have no money...

[GameKinG]

But a story kind of game just isnt what mario is, they seem to have a universal scale for all game no matter what genre or type.

I cant really think of a good analogy, but its like saying there arent enough guns in game A when in past games its never really had a lot, because thats not the focus (i.e. not a shooter).

Note, I said I could not think of a better case...

[Heyyoudvd]

Check out SMS' s score at www.gamerankings.com

It's currently the 13 highest ranked game there across all platforms (including PC). It's 1 spot AHEAD of Mario 64, and 5 spots AHEAD of Halo.

That's an incredible score.

[Xantar]

Originally posted by Bond


And the shocker thing was most likely sarcasm.


If you read the review, you'll see that Fran was not being sarcastic. He said that he misses the old fire themed world, slippery ice themed world, world in the air etc. setup of the old Mario games. Mario games are about "nostalgia" he believes.

Which I personally think is hogwash. I knew the game was going to get criticism for trying something different no matter how small. Just you watch. I'm betting the review of Metroid Prime is going to complain about the lack of a wall jump.

[Mushlafa]

I bet if this game would have gotten a 4... you would have all jus dismissed IGN as being stupid.... or somethin like that :unsure:

either way im happy.. i still dont think it deserves a 9.4.. but i havent played it yet... but.. whatever..

[DarkMaster]

Originally posted by Xantar


If you read the review, you'll see that Fran was not being sarcastic. He said that he misses the old fire themed world, slippery ice themed world, world in the air etc. setup of the old Mario games. Mario games are about "nostalgia" he believes.

Which I personally think is hogwash. I knew the game was going to get criticism for trying something different no matter how small. Just you watch. I'm betting the review of Metroid Prime is going to complain about the lack of a wall jump.
you're completely right, everytime a company tries something different with the newest game in an long running series someone will always be complaining that they want it to be the same way it was before. and if the company decides to make the game just like the previous ones in the series someone will then be complaining that the game has nothing new or different. thats why i really respect miyamoto, he doesnt listen to all these people complaining about the new things he tries, and when it comes out everybody likes the new things hes done. if he listened to wut everyone said and made every game the same old thing then that would be boring as hell. rock on shiggy!!

[BreakABone]

I know IGN's overall score isn't an average but am I the only one who finds it odd that Mario scores just above average in 2 areas and still recieves a 9.4? For some reason, I think some folks are afraid to give Mario too low of a score.

[GameKinG]

A 9.4 sounds about right from the demo I played. Its not that they gave it to high a score for giving is a 6 in one area. But that they shouldnt have given a 6 at all. And maybe they find presentation to not matter as much as the others.

[DeathsHand]

Originally posted by BreakABone
For some reason, I think some folks are afraid to give Mario too low of a score.

That's what I was thinking too... I mean even if the game's still really fun and all, with those other flaws and lower scores you'd still think it'd get less than a 9.4 :unsure:

Maybe they were just afraid cuz they knew if they gave it something low Nintendo fans would be like "OMG THAT'S SO UNFAIR! IGN SUX0RZ!" but they could still get off by mentioning the flaws and stuff, but giving it a higher overall score because a lot of Nintendo fans might just look at that and be like "OMG YAY!"

:sneaky:

heh heh...

[quiet mike]

That may be it, or the game is really that fun that it deserves getting the 9.4.

Remember that graphics are compared to RE and ED, and that FMV are compared to RE, story to ED and so on with the games on GameCube. So presentatio is 6.0 compared to a game like ED or RE, and all, but in the end a game is still as much as you play it, and if it hooks you the right way, you will forget about all the rest and play it like crazy and the give it a 9.4

When we will play the game the only thing will complain will be the camera system. Graphics, FMV's etc will just glaze past with an opinnion but will be back to playing it.

[Jonbo298]

*sigh* If they did keep the classic gameplay, IGN would've complained saying its just the same ol' Mario. Nothing really new here. But **** IGN. Their scores don't affect me one bit. They are biased IMO;):D

[Old Skool]

Sorry but your starting to all sound like a bunch of fan boys who toy is not the best any more GET A LIFE it's been reviewed and it's not a 10 out of 10 live with it! It’s not like he game it a 5 or any thing you really are starting to sound like the Xbox fanboys bitch about Gamespots reviews

Just to sum it up and show IGN got it right

Genre Games 9.5 out of 10 diff .1
netjak 9.3 out of 10 diff -.1

Get use to it this is no longer the Nintendo generation we all live in the Sony generation now with it’s in depth games with over the top story lines. Sony’s console now set the standards that games have to be marked by and sorry but story line comes into it a lot more nowadays whether Mr Mario had it before or not it is deemed an important part of games to day like it or not.

[Perfect Stu]

that's a bullsh*t overall score when looking at the flaws the game has. looks like fran didn't have the balls to give it a 8.5-9...then Nintendo fanboys would be going haywire over Mario not getting l33t reviews.

I mean, it got a 9.4 and people are still complaining about the scores in some areas...sheesh

[DarkMaster]

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
that's a bullsh*t overall score when looking at the flaws the game has. looks like fran didn't have the balls to give it a 8.5-9...then Nintendo fanboys would be going haywire over Mario not getting l33t reviews.

I mean, it got a 9.4 and people are still complaining about the scores in some areas...sheesh
agreed, 9.4 is nothing to complain about.

[Jason1]

I didnt have a problem with the Camera in SM64 at all, but from the time I had with the demo, in SMS the camera seemed much worse than in SM64. Thats just my opinoin. Just thought Id point it out.

[Bond]

Originally posted by DarkMaster

agreed, 9.4 is nothing to complain about.
That's not exactly the point. The point is that Nintendo fanboys would have been complaining if the game scored any lower than 9.4, that fact that some people are still complaining about a 9.4 is utter bull ****. Even though the final score on IGN's games is not average. If you look at the past game reviews you would find it would fall between or at least close to an average of all the scores. Obviously SMS's score was not. I am still going to buy the game whatever the reviews say. But the fact that reviewers have to give games higher scores to get hate mail and such, is sad. Not saying it was the case here, but it very much could be.

[BreakABone]

I gues the 9.4 is an example of taking something for the sum of it's parts. I mean you look at the flaws in SMS:

-Bad Camera
-Weak Story
-Bad Textures

And IMO the only one that can truly ruin the game experience is the camera. I mean I don't play a game to just stand there and stare at it and what not.

I'm just so confused at IGN's rating. I mean I understand their faults, but how the indivual sections got such scores while the overall is so much higher is scarying.

[GameKinG]

You cant expect much of a story. Mario goes on an island, trouble is a bruin, hes sent to a trial, found guilty...he gets out, and goes to clean everything up, and find the imposter...

I mean we all knew that before hand.

[Bond]

Originally posted by GameKinG
You cant expect much of a story. Mario goes on an island, trouble is a bruin, hes sent to a trial, found guilty...he gets out, and goes to clean everything up, and find the imposter...

I mean we all knew that before hand.
Yes, but the point that Mario games in general never have a good story is not an excuse for it having a bad story. Whether or not a game has a good story is something factual to judge a game on. Having bad stories in the past does not justify giving it a high score in that area. If the game has a bad story, it's going to get what it deserves, a bad score on storyline.

By the way, if my Math is right on this odd PowerToy Calc, the average of the scores is 7.8, but of course the overall score isn't an average or whatever IGN says.

[Crono]

IGN's review doesn't matter to me. The game is still the best GCN game to date. I don't care if the camera angles suck, makes the game more challenging anyway. And the tropical setting is very cool IMO, it fits the whole sunshine/spraying water thing perfectly. And I'm sure the textures are nothing to worry about, the game comes out tomorrow, I won't have it til like Sep 7 and I can't wait!

[Mushlafa]

Originally posted by Crono
IGN's review doesn't matter to me. The game is still the best GCN game to date. I don't care if the camera angles suck, makes the game more challenging anyway.
You cant say something like that before having played the game... and ign reviews dont matter to me...but you say its the best game to date on the GCN so.. thats based off what? Reviews?

I think you do care bout reviews.. :unsure:
I forgot what my point was :unsure:

[gekko]

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
that's a bullsh*t overall score when looking at the flaws the game has. looks like fran didn't have the balls to give it a 8.5-9...then Nintendo fanboys would be going haywire over Mario not getting l33t reviews.

I mean, it got a 9.4 and people are still complaining about the scores in some areas...sheesh

Overall score is an overall rating of the game. It has flaws, like every other game. But it doesn't mean it gets a low score. It's still an amazing game, easily one of the best on Gamecube (2nd to Monkey Ball of course).

[Crono]

Originally posted by Mushlafa

You cant say something like that before having played the game...


Who says I haven't played the game?? There's a demo, you know


Originally posted by Mushlafa

I think you do care bout reviews...


And no, I don't. :p

[gekko]

You can't say Mario is the best game only by playing the demo. It could be like GTA3, good only for the first 10 minutes. You never know until you play the full version.

[Xantar]

Originally posted by Bond

Yes, but the point that Mario games in general never have a good story is not an excuse for it having a bad story. Whether or not a game has a good story is something factual to judge a game on. Having bad stories in the past does not justify giving it a high score in that area. If the game has a bad story, it's going to get what it deserves, a bad score on storyline.


The question is what standard to use. Mario Sunshine's story isn't great, to be sure, but I have the feeling that the story in most platformers isn't exactly Pulitzer Prize winning material either. It's not fair to compare Mario Sunshine's story to that of, say, Metal Gear Solid because the platform genre just doesn't lend itself to great stories.

Don't get me wrong. I think IGN's score is more or less right, and even the indivdual scores are okay. I just don't agree with some of their reasoning. Docking the presentation score because of the game's vacation theme is simply wrong.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by Xantar


The question is what standard to use. Mario Sunshine's story isn't great, to be sure, but I have the feeling that the story in most platformers isn't exactly Pulitzer Prize winning material either. It's not fair to compare Mario Sunshine's story to that of, say, Metal Gear Solid because the platform genre just doesn't lend itself to great stories.

Don't get me wrong. I think IGN's score is more or less right, and even the indivdual scores are okay. I just don't agree with some of their reasoning. Docking the presentation score because of the game's vacation theme is simply wrong.

Yeh what did everyone expect?

I mean how come Super Mario 64's presentation scored so well compared to SMS?

:unsure:

I sense some anti Mario attitude in his review though...........:hmm: